A life-size sculptural group of the Three Wise Men (1.60 m) made of cedar wood, made from a candlestick, and polychromed in oil using the polished technique. They have eyelashes made of natural hair. The shoes are water-gilded with 23.5 karat fine gold and tempera-etched.
The characterization of each of the kings stands out, as they are very different from each other. I wanted to capture a different race according to the three continents that existed when Jesus Christ was born: Europe, in Melchior; Asia, in Gaspar, with Native American features; and Africa, in Balthazar. I also intended to symbolize the three ages of man, where Melchior is the old man, Gaspar is middle-aged, and Balthazar is the young man.
Finally, I had a theological intention in the group. Sacred Scripture says that the gifts given to Christ are gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Mt 2:11). Church tradition has assigned a meaning to each of these gifts: the first because of the Lord’s royalty, the second because of His divine nature, and the third because of His human—mortal—nature. Thus, Melchior carries the gold, and before a king, one must bow. Gaspar hands over the incense, and there is no greater gesture of adoration to God than genuflection. Balthazar carries the myrrh, pointing to the Child as he looks joyfully and radiantly at the people, presenting the newborn Man, the Redeemer of the world, who, although he will die, gives eternal life. Furthermore, the latter is the connecting link between all the images and the observer, making them participate and drawing them into the very mystery of the Birth of the Son of God.
The clothing was designed and made by Javier Ordóñez (De La Plata workshop) and Daniel Robles.
Photographs by Daniel Salvador Almeida.
